Two arrested in cover up of Chetek man’s natural death

CHETEK- Two men from Chetek were arrested Tuesday, Aug. 22, in connection to the death of Mark Johnson, 56 of Chetek, on Aug. 6 according to Barron County Sheriff Chris Fitzgerald.

Ricky Saastad, 62 of Chetek and Mike Wojciechowski, 37 of Chetek, in connection with the death of Mark Johnson.

WojciechowskiSaastad

Johnson was found deceased behind the wheel of a car on 25th Street at 9¾ Avenue north of Chetek on Aug. 6. Autopsy results indicated Mark Johnson died from natural causes at Saastad’s residence in Chetek sometime in the morning after a night of all three subjects smoking meth.

Johnson’s deceased body was dragged to his car, money was taken from his person, then stuffed into the passenger seat of the car and Wojciechowski drove the car down the road and left it. Saastad raked out the drag marks and disposed of the drug evidence.

Both subjects are being held in the Barron County Jail awaiting formal charges by the Barron County district attorney’s Office. Saastad is being held on felony charges of Maintaining a Drug House, Resisting and Obstructing for knowingly concealing items at the scene of the death. Wojciechowski is being held on a probation violation along with charges of Resisting and Obstructing as party to the crime and theft for taking money from Johnson after he died. – Danielle Danford with information from Barron County Sheriff’s Office